Human Rights Defenders Have No Right to Give Up as Exceptionalism and Hypocrisy Continue to Deny ‘Universal’ Human Rights of Palestinians

Ref: 133/2011

Today, the
world celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. In Paris 63 years ago, Member States of the United Nations
General Assembly “pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the
United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human
rights and fundamental freedoms”.

Today also
marks the end of one of the worst years in the history of the Palestinian
people since the Nakba. The civilian population of Palestine has been
reduced to demanding the right to life, food, medical treatment, movement, and
freedom of expression. Fundamental human rights are systematically denied, to
the point where victims are reduced to simply demanding the right to exist.

However, in the
face of such injustice, we must place our faith in the universality of human
rights. As human rights defenders we have no right to give up. We must maintain
our motivation and strength to deal with the challenges of injustice, assisting
victims in confronting the crimes of the occupation and the complicity of the
international community.

In 2011, 43
years after the signing of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the Palestinian people remain unprotected and subject to life under occupation,
colonization and apartheid. Today, the unabated construction of settlements and
the annexation wall in the West Bank, and the illegal closure of the Gaza Strip
continue, made possible through the political and financial support of the same
States who simultaneously claim to be dedicated to human rights and democracy.

As long as the
international community continues to grant Israel impunity and perpetuates the
perpetration of these crimes, there is little reason for optimism in 2012. Nonetheless,
we must remain committed to justice, and continue to push for positive changes
for the Palestinian people, and an end to the illegal policies of occupation.

On behalf of
numerous victims we will also continue to demand justice and accountability. Inaction
with respect to the recommendations made by the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the
Gaza Conflict (the ‘Goldstone Report’) has to-date been another example of
political considerations taking precedence over the rule of law, leading to a
denial of victims’ rights, and further deterioration of the human rights
situation on the ground. The international community’s refusal to pursue
accountability in Israel and Palestine, and the evident hypocrisy of this
stance, undermines the international rule of law, and the universality of human
rights.

This year has
also witnessed the refusal of UN Member States to respond to the request of the
Palestinian political leadership when it exercised the Palestinian right to
self-determination.

Countless
United Nations sessions and resolutions have censored Israel for its violations
of Palestinians’ human rights. However, these resolutions and declarations have
not been supported by concrete enforcement action. The lack of sanctions and
accountability has confirmed to the Israeli political and military leadership
that they are exempted from international law, shielded from accountability by the
blatant hypocrisy of the most powerful States.

With regard to the
Palestinian authorities, PCHR continued to document the pervasive violation of
fundamental human rights, including torture and ill-treatment, and violations
of the right to life, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.
Furthermore, PCHR will closely monitor efforts of the Palestinian political
leadership to finalize the process of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas,
and to hold democratic elections which could mark a new beginning after a 4 year
split between the two parties which has been marked by a systematic
deterioration in the human rights situation.

The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights is a landmark achievement. However, without
enforcement, and concrete action aimed at ensuring the universal respect and
protection of human rights, the UDHR remains but a declaration, of limited
relevance to civilians throughout the world whose rights continue to be
violated without redress.